The plastic greenhouse about which I would like to write here is located in a corner of Sakuragaoka, Setagaya Ward [fig. 1 to fig. 3]. We often see that vegetables and fruits are cultivated for foods in greenhouses which are owned by farmers. Nevertheless, this greenhouse is different to that of general in that there are some kinds of trees, such as those of pachira, lemon and orange, and a number of potted plants are hung from the ceiling [fig. 4]. We find some pairs of sneakers and some jerseys of adidas Originals in acrylic cases. Some of the items are buried under the ground. Yes, this is the plastic greenhouse which was produced by Kazuki Kuraishi, who is a creative product manager of adidas Originals, and was created by Makoto Azuma. The sneakers and jerseys which are displayed in the greenhouse are adidas Originals’ new products which were made reflecting Azuma’s ideas. This exhibition is held to present these new models.

     In fact, it was my first time to visit an apparel exhibition, but I doubted if it was a permissible way to display newly-created products in the ground while it would be one of normal ways of showing them packed in acrylic cases. Some pairs of sneakers were mudded and could be seen only partly above the ground, which made me wonder as above. Needless to say, such a display form as burying exhibits underground would never be adopted in common apparel shows. Nonetheless, I feel it may be really “natural” that the exhibits which Azuma designed focusing on using the theme of “nature” are displayed under the soil.

     On the left chest of a white-colored jersey, there are a logo of a green three-leaf clover and a design which was made using the motifs of plants, which make us imagine not only vegetation rooting in the ground but our surrounding natural environment. In fact, today, cities are often called a concrete jungle, but even though, probably you have had a chance to see such strong plants breaking through concrete and asphalt roads in cities. Beneath the roads, there is soil which confers us benefits that we can preserve our life which is far weaker than that of nature, even if we live in places which are not endowed with nature. The small logos and designs printed on adidas Originals items would remind us of such a trivial matter as mentioned above when we put them on our bodies or feet.

     I visited the exhibition wearing the adidas-model shoes, Stan Smith, which I had bought approximately one year ago. Indeed, the shoes are so dirty and ragged since I have never washed them and have neglected taking care of them, but they prove that I live in this world standing on the asphalt road with my own feet. The world where we live seems to aim at realizing biological clean life. Nevertheless, I would like to live without forgetting to enjoy the scent and feel of the soil. How blissful it would be if natural feelings - even though only one feeling - are generated in our minds and they move our hearts through Azuma’s exhibitions which always allow us to enjoy only temporarily!
(Translated by Nozomi Nakayama)